Chapter One
Aurora
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I’M GOING TO MISS THE library in the town I left behind almost as much as the beta whose taste is still on my lips, whose scent still lingers on my clothes.
Trix had been a very pleasant diversion during my time in the last town, she even tempts me to stay instead of heading to the next town on this stupid Omega Cultural Program, colloquially known as the Fureign Exchange, though it really pisses off the people in charge when it gets called that.
But Trix is only a beta, and Omega/Beta pairings without a pack or alpha are rarely permitted. And I’m nowhere near ready to settle down and be the good little house omega, caring for the hearth and home like my supposed genetics demand.
I’m too busy studying and researching those genetics to be controlled by them.
Too bad I can’t stop the government or the OCP from controlling me, but no one has managed that yet.
Maybe my research could be the start of changing things if I could find more proof our society was built on nothing but traditions and bullshit. Paper after paper, essay after essay, nothing has been enough.
Unfortunately, it’s probably a lifelong project.
At least I’ve bought myself some time with the exchange program. I still have years before I reach the end.
The world whips past me as I stare out the window of the train as it races towards the next town, my new home for the following twelve weeks.
A couple alpha guards walk up and down the aisle, and I keep half my attention on them. They’re well-trained and well-behaved, but all alphas made me nervous.
Especially when those alphas are surrounded by a train car full of omegas. I don’t know why the hell they don’t hire betas for this.
Rose closes her book with a sigh, leaning her head back against the seat next to me. “What’s wrong? You keep huffing.”
“I’m just tired of this.”
She nods in understanding. “You and Trix got along well. Why didn’t you request to stay longer?”
I shrug, chasing the last taste of her from my lips. “She’s great, but it wasn’t that kind of a connection. We’re going to stay in touch though.”
Rose rubs her face. “This is awful, isn’t it?”
“The program?”
“Yes. I hate being away from home and my nest. Why are we the ones who have to give up our homes and lives?”
I snort. “Please don’t get me started right now on the archaic and ridiculous laws omegas are forced to abide by.”
She chuckles. “But it’s so amusing when you rant from your soap box.”
“I’m glad it amuses you. It’s starting to exhaust me.”
A bleak hopelessness takes over Rose’s face. “I know, but what else can we do? We’re outnumbered even if we could get every single omega to take a stand.”
Which will probably never happen. I hate to generalize, but society has trained omegas well, lulling them with comfortable lives.
We aren’t expected to work or study or do anything other than make a nice home for our alphas and our packs.
Those are the lucky omegas though. Not all of us end up with alphas and packs who spoil and love them. Plenty end up abused, neglected, betrayed.
And the rejected ones end up in the breeding program where they’re forced to have children who they then lose to childless packs.
But none of those omegas are talked about.